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'Nubuck' is top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface. It is resistant to wear, and may be white or coloured. Nubuck was used with cowboys as it was light and comfortable.[1]
Nubuck is similar to suede, but differs in that suede is created from the inner side of a hide, whereas nubuck is created from the outer side of a hide, giving it more strength and thickness. [2] It is generally more expensive than suede, and must be coloured or dyed heavily to cover up the sanding and stamping process.
The word nubuck is probably derived from "New Buck". [3]